The Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium ( el, Στάδιο «Αντώνης Παπαδόπουλος») is a

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

stadium in

Larnaca Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 144 ...

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

. With a current seating capacity of 10,230, it has been the home stadium of

Anorthosis Famagusta Anorthosis Famagusta ( el, Ανόρθωση Αμμοχώστου, translit=Anorthosi Ammochostou), commonly known as Anorthosis in English or Anorthosi in Greek, is a Cypriot football club, part of the Anorthosis Famagusta multi-sport club fo ...

since its completion in 1986.

History

The ground is the home of

. The ground bears the name of an Anorthosis benefactor.18
The initial capacity of the ground was about 6,000 but gradually increased during the years to 10,230. After a major recondition in 1997, capacity reduced to 10,230 (all seated). In 2005 the east stand was named the 'Quality Stand' after the club's main sponsor. The Quality Stand is a two-storey affair which holds the newly built VIP boxes (upper storey), press room, dressing rooms, bar, etc. In 2006, the stadium went through another recondition including the building of VIP boxes in the upper section of west stand, the launching of the automatic ticketing issue and entrance system, and the replacement of the metal front fence with clear plexiglass for security reasons and for maximum field view. Also some other facilities are offered in the west stand such as new restrooms, bar, and fans' shop. After new work on the stadium in 2008, the capacity has increased to 10,230. Antonis Papadopoulos evening

Anorthosis Anorthosis Famagusta ( el, Ανόρθωση Αμμοχώστου, translit=Anorthosi Ammochostou), commonly known as Anorthosis in English or Anorthosi in Greek, is a Cypriot football club, part of the Anorthosis Famagusta multi-sport club fo ...

and the other

Famagusta Famagusta ( , ; el, Αμμόχωστος, Ammóchostos, ; tr, Gazimağusa or ) is a city on the east coast of Geography of Cyprus, Cyprus. It is located east of Nicosia District, Nicosia and possesses the deepest harbour of the island. Duri ...

team, Nea Salamis FC, used to play until 1974 in G.S.E. Stadium in Famagusta. After Anorthosis became a 'refugee team' following the

Turkish invasion of Cyprus The Turkish invasion of Cyprus began on 20 July 1974 and progressed in two phases over the following month. Taking place upon a background of Cypriot intercommunal violence, intercommunal violence between Greek Cypriots, Greek and Turkish ...

when Famagusta fell under Turkish occupation, the team played home matches at several stadiums like Dasaki Stadium in Dasaki Achnas, old and new

GSZ Stadium GSZ Stadium or Gymnastic Club Zenon Stadium (; Γ.Σ.Ζ., ) is a multi-purpose stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus. Usually it is referred to as the 'neo GSZ Stadium' to distinguish it from the old GSZ Stadium, which it replaced. It is currently used mos ...

and Tsirion Stadium in

Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...

. The ground is approved by UEFA for European games. It has hosted some matches of the Cyprus national football team. In that stadium, Cyprus national team achieved its greatest success against Spain by a score 3–2 in the

Euro 2000 The 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, also known as Euro 2000, was the 11th UEFA European Championship, a football tournament held every four years and organised by UEFA, the sport's governing body in Europe. The finals tournament was ...

qualifiers on 5 September 1998. On 16 May 1992, the stadium hosted the 1992 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship Third position final between Italy and Portugal, where Italy won 1–0. On 23 November 2011, D. Ellinas group signed a contract with Anorthosis to build new offices for Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium. The old offices of the stadium will be a joint area outside the locker room, journalistic theory, clinics and other. The cost amounts to €400,000 but the company D. Ellinas group will build the offices for free in exchange, with advertisement from Anorthosis side.

References

External links

Stadium photo
{{Major Stadiums and Indoor arenas in Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta F.C. Football venues in Cyprus Multi-purpose stadiums in Cyprus Sport in Larnaca Buildings and structures in Larnaca